Micro-trans-SPEC is small and light, compared to all other portable HPGe spectrometers, (LN2 cooled and electrically cooled). It extends the range of applicability of HPGe portable spectrometers.

Micro-trans-SPEC provides everything you need in a single easy-to-handle package. It delivers many advantages to any application: no need for liquid nitrogen, no long cables, one complete package and always ready for use.

In addition, Micro-trans-SPEC is an amazing 34% lighter than the previous trans-SPEC, weighing in at under 16 lbs, (a world record) and 20% smaller, and all with NO LOSS OF PERFORMANCE.

HPGe Detector and Cooler
The Micro-trans-SPEC HPGe detector is an ORTEC GEM Series P-type crystal that is 50 mm in diameter x 33 mm (±10%) in length with ~13% relative efficiency in a “hardened” cryostat cooled by an integrated, low-power, Stirling-cycle cryo-cooler.

All Micro-trans-SPEC instruments use nominally identical germanium crystals. A cutaway drawing showing the construction materials is available on request from ORTEC and is suitable for most Monte-Carlo modeling programs.

The crystal is housed in an all-metal sealed, ruggedized cryostat, and cooled by a highly reliable miniature Stirling-cycle cooler. This cooler is capable of approximately 1 W of heat lift at 100°K, and draws less than 25 W when operating.

The latest revision Micro-trans-SPEC features a new cooler offering reduced levels of acoustic noise and vibration, and longer operational life. The hardened cryostat is entirely free of conventional molecular sieve allowing the instrument to be turned off or on at any point in the detector cool down or warm up cycle without risk. This is impossible with conventional HPGe cryostat systems which require careful temperature cycling procedures to avoid damage.

Digital Electronics
A built-in digital MCA system and powerful data processor are included. An active digital noise reduction filter (LFR) implemented in the digital spectrometer reduces the effect of mechanically generated microphonic noise on the detector output signal, resulting in good energy resolution. Full control of the electronics parameter settings is allowed from the user interface, under password control. All models feature the same bright and clear VGA resolution display, readable in direct sunlight, with a touch sensitive operator screen. Menu navigation is highly intuitive. The radionuclide gamma-ray spectrum may be displayed and manipulated (e.g., vertical scale, zoom) like a conventional multichannel analyzer.

In the latest version, the Micro-trans-SPEC internal battery provides enough power for up to 5 hours of operation and is easily replaced in seconds, allowing continuous in-field operation.
Display and Control
The new Micro-trans-SPEC model features a bright and clear VGA resolution display with a touch sensitive operator screen. Menu navigation is highly intuitive. The overall design approach is one that will seem familiar to users of the previous generation of trans-SPEC instruments, but greatly enhanced.

The live radionuclide gamma-ray spectrum may be displayed and manipulated (e.g., vertical scale, zoom) similar to a conventional multichannel analyzer in both log and linear display modes.

There are three rows of buttons that are logically grouped together. The top row is used for ROI manipulation and navigation, the second row is used for spectrum display control and the bottom row is for hardware control, storing spectra, and navigation into the Menu Mode.

Menu items are designed to closely follow the original trans-SPEC logic. The menu structure, including all text menus and screens from the original design are converted to enhance operator familiarity, but with the attractiveness and utility of the new display technology.

Real Time Activity Calculations . . . No PC Required!
A Micro-trans-SPEC can perform simple nuclide activity calculations using internally stored calibration information, at the touch of a button, and all without the use of an attached PC. Everything is easily managed: the library for analysis, displayed peak labels, unit labels and calibration parameters.

The parameters are all easily created and downloaded by MAESTRO (MCA emulation software) to the Micro-trans-SPEC, or entered directly. The parameters can be modified in the field to adapt to changing needs. Activity is calculated for the list of up to nine nuclides. The spectral data can be saved and later re-analyzed in more detail using a more sophisticated PC-based analysis package such as GammaVision.
Peak Info Function
A peak information function allows the user to easily check that all is well with the data.
Data Security
MCA Data Security is an important consideration. The MENU has numeric password or PIN protection. The operations are separated into two groups: USER and ADMINISTRATOR. The USER password protects the instrument from unauthorized use, allowing the user to protect data stored in the internal memory. The ADMIN or Setup functions are protected by a different administrator password. The ADMIN functions can only be changed by the Administrator ensuring that your results are based on the correct parameters.
Full Settings Control
Full control of all relevant instrument settings is available under password protection.
Instrument State-of-Health and Status
The Micro-trans-SPEC HPGe detector incorporates "SMART-1™" diagnostics, which verify that the instrument is operating properly. State-of-health and instrument status is available at a glance.

CONNECTIONS programs, such as MAESTRO which is included with the Micro-trans-SPEC, can read the state-of-health status parameters, and display them on a laptop, if connected. They may also be displayed on the Micro-trans-SPEC status screen. User-developed packages may read the status register through the Micro-trans-SPEC for maintaining the spectrum QA.
Flexibility in Choice of Power Sources
The Micro-trans-SPEC can draw power from a variety of sources. The charging circuitry is internal to the instrument. A mains power "brick" is included, which provides 15 V DC output from a mains input voltage of 90–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz, so it can be used anywhere in the world. Also, a cable is provided which allows the instrument to be charged via the accessory socket on a motor vehicle.
MCA Emulation and Spectral Analysis. . . MAESTRO MCA Emulator Included
The latest version MAESTRO MCA software is included to run on your PC or laptop. It provides a standard graphical user interface and can be used to control all system parameters from the convenient larger screen.

MAESTRO is a member of the ORTEC CONNECTIONS family of products, and provides full networking with other ORTEC spectrometers and supporting computers. MAESTRO includes features for identifying peaks, editing libraries, and creating, printing and saving Regions of Interest (ROI), performing energy calibrations, automating tasks via using simple “Job Streams,” AND MORE!
Wireless Remote Control and Monitoring with the Mobile MCB Server
The Mobile MCB Server software application enables any ORTEC portable instrument having a PDA to communicate with ORTEC software applications such as MAESTRO, GammaVision, and Detective-Remote. The Mobile MCB Server acts like a wireless version of the USB connection, allowing users to control and monitor any portable spectrometer through a wireless network.
Create Your Own Custom Software with the Optional A11 Toolkit
The A11 CONNECTIONS Programmer’s Toolkit is optionally available for those who wish to integrate the Micro-trans-SPEC into their own software systems. The Toolkit offers ActiveX Controls to simplify programming with LabVIEW, Visual C++, and Visual Basic.

“Hardened” cryostat with high-reliability, low-power Stirling-cycle cooler. The cryostat design is such that the Micro-trans-SPEC may be switched off at any time and power subsequently re-applied without having to wait for a full thermal cycle (full warm up before cool down), as is normal practice with a HPGe detector system. This feature greatly increases system availability during measurement campaigns.

Main Display Configurable Status Line User-configurable parameter display allows two parameter choices from the following selection: cursor energy, location, live time, live time remaining, real time remaining, battery life remaining, count rate, count rate in ROI, and counts.

Energy Calibration

Quadratic fit of energy versus channel.

On Line Activity Calculation

Activity and uncertainty are calculated and reported on-screen, on-line for up to nine user-defined regions. Activity is calculated as net count rate divided by user supplied efficiency factor.

Multiple Presets

Multiple Presets Live time, real time, integral peak count, peak count, uncertainty and Multi-Nuclide MDA. Up to 20 nuclide ROIs may be specified. Acquisition halts when all MDA requirements have been satisfied. Real/Live Time in multiples of 1 sec.

Menu Functions

Pressing the Menu button while a spectrum is displayed brings up the Main Menu.

Main Menu Options

View Status

Displays all of the major MCA settings, including: Live time, Real time, Dead time, Battery voltage, Bias voltage, Fine gain, Coarse gain, and Baseline restore [BLR] setting.

Sample ID

Full alpha-numeric sample description may be entered; included in spectrum file.

Peak Info

Reports centroid, FWHM, and net and gross counts for the region identified by the marker position.

Sets up the Status Line at the top of the spectrum display and the marker line at the bottom to show a selection of the following parameters:
1) Status line, two of: Live time, Real time, Live time remaining, Real time remaining, Battery time remaining, Count rate, Count rate in ROI.
2) Marker line, two of: Marker location (energy), Marker location (channel), Marker channel counts.

Spectra Settings

1) Ask for Sample Description on save
2) Set a default Sample Description
3) Set a data location
4) Set a file save format
5) Display a stored spectrum
6) Delete a spectrum

Nuclide Report

Displays a list of predefined nuclides and reports the activity for each.

Cooler Settings

Allows user to turn cooler on or off and reports any fault condition.

System Hardware Settings

Coarse Gain

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32

Fine Gain

0.45 to 1. With the available range of gain settings, the following FULL SCALE energy range is achievable ~40 keV to ~7 MeV.

Converstion Gain

The Micro-trans-SPEC conversion gain is software controlled from 512 to 16k channels.

Dead Time Correction

Extended live-time correction according to Gedcke-Hale method. Accuracy: Area of reference peak changes ±3% from 0 to 50,000 counts per second.

Cool Down Time The high reliability cooler is designed for continuous operation. Between measurements the unit is powered from a DC supply, car battery or other high capacity device. Initial cool down time depends on ambient temperature, but is typically <12 hours at 25°C.

Software

Micro-trans-SPEC is fully supported by the latest versions of the highly successful MAESTRO MCA Emulator (included) as well as ORTEC Gamma Spectroscopy packages such as GammaVision for generalized HPGe spectrum analysis, FRAM and MGAHI for Pu and U isotopic ratio analysis and ISOPlus for in-situ waste assay analysis.

The integral USB connection in the instrument hardware provides full PC control, real-time live MCA display, fast data transfer of single and multiple spectra to the PC, and full ORTEC CONNECTIONS network support.